The building of the Railways in the 19th century entirely changed the face of Europe but nowhere more so than in England. OFF THE RAILS perfectly characterises the chaos associated with its beginning. While being astonishingly witty, this meticulously researched work simultaneously provides a brilliant encapsulation of the plethora of endeavours that triggered the railway mania. The wildly comic and constantly changing fortunes of the hero, Major Robarts, possibly an Indian Army deserter from the ranks one is never quite sure.... and the villainy of the entrepreneur Nutcombe mixes the insanity of the period with penetrating observations on greed, profiteering and sexual ambition. A glimpse of the frequency of duplicity to achieve the staggering financial rewards open to them illuminates a fascinating study of the many rich and varied characters involved in the proposed construction of Major Robart's 'Great Peterswell and Welsh Rail Road' or his rival's ' 'Allminster and Aberystwyth Company'. A frenetic grouping, offering amazing similarities to those we are all too familiar with today are profiled by the Major's unfortunately honest fresh faced son George, the immensely correct Lord Charles, the dour Macintyre Callendar and Nutcombe's servile acolyte Kenny. There are many more wonderful characters. The Major's romantic dalliance with the superbly vulgar Dorinda is always on the altar of chance, in the event of it offering personal advance or carnal pleasure to either. At the climax of the story, the epic dash to the Board of Trade by both parties provides a cliff hanging sequence before the astonishing finale.
About the Author: The author of this wonderful book was Sidney Gilliat, one of England's most notable film writers and directors. To quote film critic Geoff Brown, 'If Sidney Gilliat hadn't been born in 1908 British Cinema would have had to invent him. Whether as a writer or director, someone was needed in the days of mass movie going to look at British life with a beady eye and a dry wit' which was precisely what the great man did, writing such landmark films as Rome Express, The Lady Vanishes, The Rakes Progress and Green For Danger to name but a few. With Frank Launder, his partner, his company also produced classic such as Brief Encounter and The Red Shoes. In the early 50s Launder and Gilliat left J.Arthur Rank to work for Korda at British Lion where they made several more notable films, in particular State Secret and the comedy The Constant Husband, which starred Rex Harrison. Later on after Korda had left British Lion Sidney Gilliat directed what was probably the most successful work of his career Only Two Can Play, starring Peter Sellers. Finally the four St Trinians films ensured their company's financial future. Although a director of great note Gilliat was primarily a writer. He was also passionately interested in classical music and wrote two lilbrettos for Malcolm Arnold operas, Our Man in Havana and The Open Window. His last film was Endless Night which he adapted from an Agatha Christie story. OFF THE RAILS was his only attempt at a novel and he was still working on it when he died in 1994. Originally published as CATCH AS CATCH CAN.